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Undergraduate

Associate Degree of Medical Laboratory Science

Associate Degree of Medical Laboratory Science (AMLS)

Entry requirements
ATAR 62.70
Study mode
  • External
  • On-campus
Campus
  • Toowoomba
Duration
  • 2 year(s) (or part-time equivalent)
Start
  • Feb, Jul
Note: The July intake (Semester 2) is only available part-time, therefore is not suitable for international students who wish to study full-time on-campus.

Overview

  • Learn how to examine blood samples to assist in identifying diseases such as anaemia and leukaemia, as well as how to perform blood grouping for patients requiring a transfusion.
  • You will also develop the skills required for processing patient tissue samples to assist the diagnosis of diseases such as cancer.
  • You will learn how to use state of the art methods to assist the diagnosis of the causes of infectious diseases like pneumonia and meningitis, and blood and wound infections.

Further study

After completing the Associate Degree of Medical Laboratory Science, you have the option to take the credit from your studies and go on to complete the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science.

 

Thinking of studying in 2024? UniSQ will be delivering flexible new ways of teaching, with different calendar offerings, making the balance of study and life easier. Read more in our new academic calendar FAQs

Career outcomes

  • Gain the education and training necessary for a career as a medical laboratory technician or technical officer in the private and public pathology laboratory sectors, a medical or clinical research technician in a university, health or biotechnology sectors, or in health, medical and scientific product marketers.
  • This degree will also provide you with training for a career as a biomedical scientist with a research capability and/or a biomedical science support role. 
  • Medical laboratory technicians and technical officers form a critical part of the health team supporting medical scientists, pathologists, doctors, nurses and associated health professionals by performing analyses on patient specimens, to provide information that is vital in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of human disease. 

Entry requirements

Find the entry requirements most relevant to you.

Recent secondary education

Adjusted Entry score including adjustment factors (additional points given in certain circumstances). Unadjusted Entry score not including adjustment factors.
ATAR The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a percentile rank used to assess the results of high-school applicants for undergraduate entry into university. 62.70 56.75

Pre-requisites

To study this degree we assume you have sound knowledge in:

  • English (Units 3 & 4, C), and
  • General Mathematics (Units 3 & 4, C)

We assume that your knowledge is equivalent to a grade C or higher in Units 3 and 4 at high school level (typically studied in Year 12). Find out more about assumed knowledge.

It is also recommended that you have studied either Biology (Units 3 & 4, C), Chemistry (Units 3 & 4, C), or equivalent.

Further admission information

Adjustments are additional points given in certain circumstances that may increase your Rank. Find out if you qualify for any adjustment factor pathways such as educational disadvantage where you live, and subjects you passed.

UniSQ is committed to greater admissions transparency. Learn more about the education and work experience, as well as average Ranks for this degrees' student cohort for Semester 1 from the previous year.

Inherent requirements

There are inherent requirements that must be met in order to successfully complete this degree. Inherent requirements are fundamental skills, capabilities and knowledge that students must be able to demonstrate in order to achieve the essential learning outcomes of the degree, while maintaining the academic integrity of the degree. Please read and understand the inherent requirements specific to the Associate Degree of Medical Laboratory Science before applying.

If you think you may experience any problems meeting inherent requirements, you can talk to a Student Equity Officer about reasonable adjustments that may be put in place to assist you. Any reasonable adjustments made must not fundamentally change the nature of the inherent requirement.

Tafe (VET) qualification

If you have completed a qualification from a TAFE or qualified private provider, you may be able to use these qualifications to meet UniSQ's entry requirements.

Work and life experience

You may be able to use your work experience and other adjustment factors to increase your selection rank and meet UniSQ's entry requirements.

English language requirements

You are required to satisfy the applicable English language requirements and this degree requires a minimum of IELTS 6.0 or equivalent. If you do not meet the English language requirements you may apply to study a University-approved English language program.

Additional requirements for placements

All students must be able to meet the physical and other requirements of professional experience placements within this program. These include:

  • evidence of immunity to notifiable and contagious diseases
  • a signed QLD Health Student Orientation Checklist, QLD Health Placement Deed and a QLD Health Placement Privacy and Consent Deed, or a signed SA Health Student Orientation Checklist, SA Health Placement Deed and a SA Health Privacy and Consent Deed. 
  • a signed UniSQ Student Clinical Placement Policy Declaration.

Recognition of prior learning or work experience

You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help to reduce the number of courses that you need to study to finish your program.

Pathways

If you don't meet the entry requirements, we have pathway options available to you.

If you identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent you may be eligible to enter the Indigenous Higher Education Pathways Program (IHEPP).

Degree structure

To complete this degree students must complete 16 units. Most courses (similar to ‘subjects’) are valued at 1 unit. To study full-time you would usually complete 4 units per semester.

Courses to be studied Units
Core courses 8
Medical Laboratory Science courses 8
incl.39 days of clinical placement
Total 16

Refer to the UniSQ Handbook for courses to be studied and recommended enrolment patterns.

Clinical experience

In addition to the courses to be studied, you will also need to complete clinical experience, where interactive hands-on activities, such as experiments and use of specialist equipment, are undertaken.

All students must be able to meet the physical and other professional requirements of clinical/professional practice within this degree.

Residential schools

If you are enrolled in the External study mode in this degree, you will have the opportunity to come on-campus for residential schools, where you will attend face-to-face lectures and tutorials, use the facilities and meet staff and other students.

Fees and scholarships

Your actual fees may vary depending on the courses you select. We review our fees annually so these may be subject to change.

Approximate annual costs1 for your first year of study (8 units) in this degree are:

Study Mode Cost
Commonwealth supported

The Federal Government contributes to the cost of your course and you need to pay a student contribution.

AUD 8296
Domestic full fee paying

You are responsible for the full cost of your course and are charged a tuition fee.

AUD 28560

1 These are indicative annual fees for 2023. 

Student services and amenities fees

You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.

Residential school costs

This degree includes an on-campus residential school component that involves travel, accommodation and meal expenses.

Loan to help you pay your fees

You may not have to pay your course (subject) fees upfront. HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP allows you to defer your fees until your income reaches a certain level. Find out if you are eligible for HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP.

You may also be eligible to receive financial support from Centrelink.

Scholarships

At UniSQ, we offer a range of scholarships to support your success at university. Find a scholarship that works for you.

How to apply

Apply via QTAC

Apply via QTAC (Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre) if you:

  • have never studied with UniSQ before, or
  • are a Year 12 student, or
  • want to transfer to UniSQ from another university.
Mode QTAC Codes
External 906925
Toowoomba 906921

Copy your QTAC code and continue through to the QTAC website to complete your application.

Apply through QTAC

If you are applying via QTAC, please check our application closing dates.

Apply directly to UniSQ

You may be able to apply directly to UniSQ if you:

  • are a current or previous UniSQ student returning to study with complete or incomplete qualifications (excluding Head Start students), or
  • have recently graduated from TAFE.

The closing dates for applying directly to UniSQ are:

  • Semester 1, 2023 - applications close on 20 February and the Semester 1 study period commences on Monday 20 February, 2023.
  • Semester 2, 2023 - applications close on 10 July and the Semester 2 study period commences on Monday 10 July, 2023.

Further information

Discover further information on applying to study at UniSQ that is relevant to you.

Got questions?

 

Begin your study journey today with the university rated five out of five stars for graduates starting salaries* and start the degree that’s right for you.

*Good Universities Guide, 2023

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